One of nicest things we can
do as a Christian is to “pay it forward” when led to do so.
Some call this
“passing it on.”
I was asked to address this
issue by Matt, a brother in Christ. He asked if I might say a few words on this
subject. There are many ways we can show this type of kindness and appreciation
to others. Following are some ideas.
Pay for someone’s meal
without their knowledge.
Give your seat to someone
else on a crowded bus.
Offer an honest compliment on
a job well done.
Don’t tailgate the slow, slow
driver in front of you.
Provide an anonymous gift to
a family who has lost their home from a fire.
Provide financial assistance,
anonymously, to someone needing an expensive operation.
Complete a company survey,
complementing the employee who served your needs.
These are only a few
examples. There are literally hundreds of ways we can pay it forward by showing
the love of God for others. That’s really what it’s all about. We should always
do these kind gestures from love for our fellowman. If it is ever done out of
duty or our wanting recognition, it should not be done at all. Neither should
it be done out of pity or “looking down” on others.
When we help others, even in
a small way, it takes our eyes off us. It also gives us a reward of feeling
good inside by helping others. A further reward is that God increases our love
we have toward other people and then we look for ways to do more.
The Apostle Paul said to the
elders of Ephesus upon his departure from them,
“In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must
help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
(Acts 20:35 NASB emphasis mine) The passage Paul was referring to is Luke
14:12-14 which says:
“And He also went on to say
to the one who had invited Him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not
invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors,
otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment.
“But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the
blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you;
for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” (NASB)
How many times have we seen
an opportunity come our way to be kind to another and then failed? Here’s some
advice. Don’t dwell on it. Move on, because more opportunities will arise. Be
ready the next time to not let it slip through your fingers.
Probably the greatest thing
we can give anyone else when paying it forward is the good news about Jesus.
It’s great to pay for someone’s meal, or their health needs, or bus ticket, or
haircut, or groceries, etc. but there is nothing like paying it forward with
the good news of eternal life found only in Jesus Christ.
Can sharing the Gospel though
actually be classified as paying it forward? Let’s read something else Jesus
said.
“Go therefore and make
disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the
Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and
lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20 NASB)
Someone told us about Jesus,
and someone told them about Jesus, and someone told them about Jesus. Don’t you
think Jesus wants us to pay it forward too so someone else can have what we
have; i.e. eternal life through Him? Of course He does. If that isn’t paying it
forward (or passing it on) I don’t know what is.
Think about this. The good
news about the Good News is that when it was paid forward to us and we pay it
forward to someone else, there is actually no “paying” involved other than what
Jesus paid for us on the cross. When we put our faith in Jesus to save us
everything is paid in full. There is nothing left owing. The slate is clean.
And that my friends has been forwarded on to be written down in Heaven and
sealed on earth by the Holy Spirit that resides in us as a deposit, a
guarantee, of God’s promise of eternal life for those who put their trust in
His Son.
“When Jesus therefore had
received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave
up the ghost.” (John 19:30 NASB) When Jesus said “It is finished,” He was
saying our debt has been paid in full. There is nothing left owing. It is an
accounting term meaning that the balance is zero.
We may pay it forward
occasionally here on earth by paying for someone’s meal, but they will still
need to pay for their next meal and their next. However, when it comes to
salvation, only Jesus can “pay it forward.” We pay it forward by passing on to
others this Good News.
Perhaps when we assist
someone else in paying it forward, Jesus is allowing us to experience just a
teeny bit of what He feels for us. We pay it forward just a smidgen. He paid it
all. When our heart goes out to that one in need of a bright spot in their day,
let us consider the great love our Lord has for us.
Let us also consider the
blessing received by the one we help. Can it not restore that person’s faith in
man, that not all people are selfish and uncaring? Of course it can. Especially
if they realize the help comes from someone identified with Jesus Christ, could
this not help in perking their interest in hearing about Jesus? It is very
likely. That may be a door of opportunity to provide the Good News of salvation
through Jesus Christ.
So when the opportunities
arise, and they will, maybe we should consider the small acts of kindness we
can be part of by simply “paying it forward.”
Grant Phillips
Email: grantphillips@windstream.net
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
